24 - 25 June Roma

We arrived at Roma, yesterday lunch time and have settled into Roma Aussie Tourist Park for 2 nights. It is very dry here, even though the town flooded in March this year. I was bathing Christopher and Riley, but when Chrissy heard of the free sausage sizzle put on by the park owners, he was out of the shower cubicle like a shot. We went to see "The Big Rig" night show and learned of the history of gas and oil in this area. It was a very good presentation for all ages. The town is noted for bottle trees and 138 have been planted as a tribute to the lives lost in WW1. The largest has a girth of 8.9 m. We saw the Roma mural at the cultural centre and had to visit the 'must see' shop - Ace Drapers No 1, the most untidy, dangerous (1000s of rolls of fabric and wool teetering on the edge of a 10 foot drop) scariest drapery we had ever, ever seen... there was literally mountains of 'stuff'. Jamie reckons there were dead bodies laying beneath the depths of the fabric. The 6 of us were in absolute hysterics as we mountaineered our way isle by isle. Mum, Dad and I went to the Romaville Vineyards (Old Bassett Winery) the first winery in Qld. We taste tested - very enjoyable (won't need drinks when we get back) and made some purchases. We went see where dad lived when he was 7, his school, wheat sheds were he used to play and St Pauls Anglican church which is noted for its beautiful leadlights. There use to be 23 pubs in this little town!! Mum and Dad have gone off to see John Williamson tonight and we stayed around the campfire and shared dinner with the campers. Our kids cleaned up every scone in sight. They have had heaps of fun on their scooters, playing with walkie talkies and generally annoying each other. Our aim at present is not to let our van turn out to be Ace Drapers No 2. This has been a fun memorable town. Tommorrow we are headed for Charleville.